Usman Qadir, the 31-year-old legspinner, has bid farewell to Pakistan cricket, ending a four-year journey that began with a return from Australia and a commitment to his homeland.
Qadir’s international debut came in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, where he made an immediate impact with eight wickets in three matches, earning him the Player of the Series award. At his peak, he was considered Pakistan’s primary legspinner, briefly eclipsing Shadab Khan in the T20I side.
However, Qadir’s career was marked by inconsistency and disciplinary issues. In 2018, he expressed his desire to represent Australia, making his debut for Western Australia and playing for the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder in the BBL.
In a surprising turn of events, Misbah-ul-Haq named Qadir in a Pakistan squad for a series in Australia in late 2019, even before he had publicly committed to playing for Pakistan. The decision came shortly after the passing of Qadir’s father, Abdul Qadir, Pakistan’s most famous legspinner.
Qadir’s inconsistency continued with Pakistan, and his last international appearance came at the Asian Games in October 2023. In recent months, his relationship with the PCB deteriorated, with Qadir accusing the board of mismanaging his injury.
In his retirement announcement, Qadir expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career and paid tribute to his father’s legacy. He did not specify his future plans but hinted at continuing his involvement in cricket.
Qadir’s retirement marks the end of an era for Pakistan cricket, as he was one of the last remaining players from the generation that followed the golden era of the 1990s and early 2000s.
